Midland residents packed a meeting room at the Psalmond Road Recreation Center last month to fight against a proposed rezoning for a mixed use development.
They oppose the project called Midland Downs, a plan to turn the 143 wooded acres at 9101 Macon Road in Columbus into a residential and commercial development. Traffic, crime, and overcrowding in schools are among their concerns. Tense conversations about these issues lasted for almost three hours at the July 21 meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem and Columbus Councilor Gary Allen of District 6 and Garrett Pines Homeowners Association board member Chris Osborne helped set up 60 chairs for the meeting. Shortly before the 7 p.m. start, it was standing room only.
Philip Thayer, partner at Thayer-Bray Construction and developer at Midland Downs Development LLC, fielded questions and concerns from residents…